Monarchs Return To Action at JMU

May 06, 2004
By ODU Athletics

ODU Sports

May 6, 2004

NORFOLK, VA-- The Old Dominion University Monarchs (17-24/6-9) return to action after
a 15-day layoff with a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at James Madison(
26-17/7-8). The series begins Saturday at 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg, VA.

This will be the first of a five-game road swing which includes single games
at Liberty on Tuesday (1:00) and Radford on Wednesday (1:00).

Thus far this season, Justin Verlander (Goochland, Va.) ranks fourth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.8, while Donnie Smith (Portsmouth, Va.) is averaging 11.0 and ranks 25th. Smith also ranks 28th nationally in earned run average at 2.15.

Verlander who is already the CAA and ODU's all-time strikeout king with 384 is
scheduled to pitch on Saturday, while Smith is scheduled for Sunday and Ricky
Shefka (Kinston, NC.) is slated for Monday's game.